Exposing pro-Israel bias, propaganda, disinformation and spin in Australia's mainstream media. Monitoring pro-Israel influence in Australia's public and political arena.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Rumblings of Discontent in NSW Labor

Interesting. A totally inadequate development, of course, but still an interesting sign of the times:

"As rocket fire richochets across the Middle East [?] and Israel invades Gaza... former foreign minister Bob Carr is leading a push within Labor to formally adopt a more 'pro-Palestinian' stance in the party's policy platform. Mr Carr will move a motion from the floor of the NSW Labor conference next weekend seeking to shift the party's Middle East policy to express more sympathy with Palestinians in response to what sections of the party argue is the increasingly bellicose stance of Israel.

"The former NSW premier, who branded the Australian Israel lobby as 'Likudniks' and accused them of hijacking foreign policy during Julia Gillard's government, is leading an effort inside the party to recast Labor's stance in response to a series of motions condemning Israel from local branches. Mr Carr, who is attending the conference as alternate delegate from the Maroubra state electorate council, has confirmed to The Australian his involvement in the behind-the-scenes policy shift. As a former foreign minister with an interest in this subject, he says he will offer advice to colleagues. A raft of motions sent to the conference from local branches and unions, obtained by The Australian, condemn the Israeli government, express strong support for the Palestinian people and urge the fast-tracking of a two-state solution. There are no motions that express fidelity with Israel or criticise the Palestinians.

"The motions come from branches dominated by the Right and Left factions, signalling an underlying shift in the party on Middle East policy reinforced by demographic changes. Sources say the drivers of this shift are the treatments of Palestinians in the West Bank, the spread of Israeli settlements and the hardline right-wing government in Israel... Labor's recommendations in the conference report are that these motions be 'noted' while recognising the party's long-term support for a 'two-state solution achieved through a negotiated settlement'. However, Mr Carr is working to develop an omnibus resolution expressing more explicit support for the Palestinians." (Carr to push Labor on Israel, Troy Bramston, The Australian, 21/7/14)